Skip Central station gridlock; this nearby halt may soon become new gateway to capital

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following a recent escalator mishap at Thiruvananthapuram Central and ongoing redevelopment works at the station, railway authorities are considering a proposal to grant additional stops for trains at Pettah station. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is currently struggling to manage the massive passenger surge at the Central station’s exit gates due to the ongoing construction.

The urgency of the situation was highlighted last Tuesday when an escalator carrying passengers malfunctioned and reversed direction, causing a minor accident.

Morning Rush and Platform Constraints

Thiruvananthapuram serves as the destination for 13 trains arriving between 5:00 AM (Amrita Express) and 11:10 AM (Chennai Mail). Excluding two trains that terminate at Kochuveli, 11 major trains offload thousands of passengers at the Central station every morning. This includes government employees heading to the Secretariat, students, and patients travelling to the Medical College and Regional Cancer Centre (RCC).

Of the 11 trains heading to Thampanoor, two are passenger trains, while five of the remaining nine express trains currently bypass Pettah. The congestion is exacerbated by outbound traffic; nearly a dozen trains, including the Vande Bharat (5:15 AM) and the Pune Express (10:40 AM), depart during the same window. With only five operational platforms available during the renovation, arriving trains are frequently detained at the outer signals (Moonnumukku and Uppidamoodu Bridge), causing significant delays for commuters.

Case for a Vanchinad Express stop at Pettah

Office-goers heavily rely on the Intercity Express (via Alappuzha) and the Vanchinad Express (via Kottayam), both of which arrive around 10:00 AM. While the Intercity already stops at Pettah, the Vanchinad Express—which leaves Ernakulam at 5:05 AM—stops at Kazhakoottam at 9:30 AM before heading straight to Central.

Commuters argue that a stop at Pettah would provide much faster access to the Legislative Assembly, University offices, Public Office, and Vikas Bhavan. Furthermore, it would offer a direct route for patients heading to the Medical College, Sree Chitra Institute, SAT Hospital, and General Hospital, allowing them to bypass the traffic gridlock of the city centre.

Current morning arrival status

Terminating at Kochuveli: Rajya Rani Express, Mysore–Kochuveli Express

Existing Stops at Pettah: Malabar Express, Kollam–Thiruvananthapuram Passenger, Pune–Kanyakumari Express, Punalur–Kanyakumari Passenger, Intercity Express, Chennai Mail

No Stop at Pettah: Amrita Express, Guruvayur–Chennai Egmore Express, Maveli Express, Chennai–Thiruvananthapuram Superfast, Vanchinad Express

"We submitted a formal petition to the Railways last year requesting a stop for the Vanchinad Express at Pettah to ease the burden on daily commuters," stated the Friends on Rails Passengers Association.